John Lithgow Biography

John Arthur Lithgow ( ; born , 1945) is an American character actor, musician, and author. Lithgow has been involved with a wide range of media projects, including stage, television, film, and radio. He also has written and published several books of poetry and children's literature. He appeared in the films The World According to Garp (1982) and Terms of Endearment (1983), receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for each.

Lithgow is well known for his roles as the Reverend Shaw Moore in Footloose, Dick Solomon on the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, the voice of Lord Farquaad in Shrek, and Arthur Mitchell on Showtime's Dexter, for which he won Golden Globe and Emmy awards. On the stage, he appeared in the musical adaptation of Sweet Smell of Success, winning the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He again appeared in a musical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, again receiving a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. He has also recorded music, such as the 1999 album of children's music, Singin' in the Bathtub, and has written poetry and short stories for children, such as Marsupial Sue.

Early life

Lithgow was born in Rochester, New York. His mother, Sarah Jane (née Price), was a retired actress. His father, Arthur Washington Lithgow III, who was born in the Dominican Republic, was a theatrical producer and director who ran the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, New Jersey. Because of his father's job, the family moved frequently during Lithgow's childhood; he spent his teenage years in Akron (living at Stan Hywet) and Lakewood, Ohio.

Lithgow attended Harvard College, and graduated with an A.B. magna cum laude in 1967, in history and literature. He lived in Adams House as an undergraduate. Lithgow later served on Harvard's Board of Overseers. Lithgow credits a performance at Harvard of Gilbert and Sullivan's Utopia Limited with helping him decide to become an actor. After graduation, Lithgow won a Fulbright Scholarship to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Stage career

In 1973, Lithgow debuted on Broadway in David Storey's The Changing Room, for which he received both the Tony and Drama Desk Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play. The following year he starred opposite Lynn Redgrave in My Fat Friend, and in 1976 he starred opposite Meryl Streep in Arthur Miller's A Memory of Two Mondays. He was nominated for the Best Actor Tony Awards for Requiem for a Heavyweight (1985) and M. Butterfly (directed by John Dexter, 1988).

In 2002, Lithgow won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of J.J. Hunsecker in the Broadway adaptation of the 1957 film Sweet Smell of Success. In 2005, Lithgow was elected into the American Theatre Hall of Fame for his work on Broadway. He was also nominated for a Best Leading Actor in a Musical Tony for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

In 2007, Lithgow played Malvolio in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Twelfth Night, at The Courtyard Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom.

In 2008 through 2009, Lithgow played Joe Keller in a Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons.

Lithgow starred alongside Jennifer Ehle in Douglas Carter Beane's comedy Mr & Mrs Fitch presented Off-Broadway by Second Stage Theatre from February 22, 2010 to April 4, 2010.

Lithgow returned to Broadway as Joseph Alsop in the Manhattan Theatre Club production of David Auburn's new play The Columnist, with previews starting on April 4, 2012.

The National Theatre tempted Lithgow to appear on the London stage in the winter of 2012/13 where he took role of Police Magistrate Aeneas Posket in a revival of Arthur Wing Pinero's The Magistrate.

Film career

In 1979, Lithgow portrayed Lucas Sergeant in Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical movie All That Jazz. The character was loosely based on the real-life director/choreographer Michael Bennett, best known for his work on Dreamgirls and A Chorus Line.

In 1983 and 1984, Lithgow was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances as Roberta Muldoon in The World According to Garp and as Sam Burns in Terms of Endearment. Both films were screen adaptations of popular novels. Lithgow originated the character of Dr. Emilio Lizardo/Lord John Whorfin, an Italian physicist inhabited by an evil alien, which he played in the 1984 cult film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. In 1984, Lithgow also played a pastor who condemns dancing in Footloose. He later played the role of American space engineer Walter Curnow in 2010, the sequel to the science fiction classic 2001: A Space Odyssey.

In 1983, Lithgow appeared in a remake of the classic Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" in Twilight Zone: The Movie as the paranoid passenger made famous on the television show by William Shatner. In an interview will Bill Moyers Lithgow reveals this role as his favorite of his film career. In 1991, he starred in the movie Ricochet opposite Denzel Washington as Earl Talbot Blake, a criminal seeking revenge against the policeman who sent him to prison. In 1992, he starred as a man with multiple personality disorder in Brian De Palma's film Raising Cain, and in 1993, starred as the villainous Eric Qualen in the Sylvester Stallone movie Cliffhanger.

In 1987, Lithgow starred in the Bigfoot-themed family comedy Harry and the Hendersons. In 2002, he narrated Life's Greatest Miracle, a documentary about human embryonic development, while in 2004, he portrayed the moralistic, rigid father of Alfred Kinsey in that year's biopic Kinsey. In 2006, Lithgow had a small role in the Academy Award-winning film Dreamgirls, as Jerry Harris, a film producer offering Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles) a film role. He starred in a lead role in the science fiction film Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

As a voice actor, Lithgow is well known for his role as the evil Lord Farquaad in the Shrek movie franchise. His appearances as Farquaad include Shrek, Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party, Shrek 4-D which was originally Shrek 3-D and used as an amusement park attraction, and Shrek the Third. He also was in Confessions of a Shopaholic as Edgar West.

Television career

In terms of his television career, Lithgow is probably most widely known for his starring role as Dick Solomon in the 1996"2001 NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in each of the program's six seasons and won three times, in 1996, 1997, and 1999. His son Ian regularly appeared alongside him as Leon, one of his physics students.

In 1986, Lithgow received a Primetime Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for his appearance in the episode The Doll of the Amazing Stories anthology series.

Additionally, Lithgow has been nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for The Day After (1983), and two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for Resting Place (1986) and My Brother's Keeper (1995). Lithgow was approached about playing Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers, but turned it down. Lithgow starred with Jeffrey Tambor in the NBC sitcom Twenty Good Years.

Since 2006 he has starred in Campbell Soup Company's commercials advertising their Campbell's Select premium soup brand.

On March 5, 2009, Lithgow made a cameo on NBC's 30 Rock, in the episode "Goodbye, My Friend," with several references to his role in Harry and the Hendersons.

In September 2009, Lithgow joined the cast of Dexter as Arthur Mitchell, a serial killer and Dexter Morgan's nemesis. He won a Golden Globe Award for this role, and won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series.

He guest starred on How I Met Your Mother in the role of Barney Stinson's father, Jerry.

Children's entertainment

Lithgow has done extensive work for children, including several books and albums. Some of his book titles are Marsupial Sue, Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake," Lithgow Party Paloozas!: 52 Unexpected Ways to Make a Birthday, Holiday, or Any Day a Celebration for Kids, Carnival of the Animals, A Lithgow Palooza: 101 Ways to Entertain and Inspire Your Kids, I'm a Manatee, Micawber, The Remarkable Farkle McBride, Mahalia Mouse Goes to College and I Got Two Dogs. He also appeared as a guest on the Canadian children's program, ''Ants in Your Pants''.

Lithgow launched into a career as a recording artist with the 1999 album of children's music, Singin' in the Bathtub. In June 2002, Lithgow released his second children's album Farkle and Friends. It was the musical companion to his book The Remarkable Farkle McBride, which tells the story of a young musical genius. Farkle and Friends features the vocal talents of Lithgow and Bebe Neuwirth backed by the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra. In August 2006, Lithgow released The Sunny Side of the Street, his third children's album and first with Razor & Tie. This album features versions of classic songs from The Great American Songbook including "Getting to Know You" and "Ya Gotta Have Pep". Produced by JC Hopkins, the album features guest appearances by Madeleine Peyroux, Wayne Knight, Sherie Rene Scott and Maude Maggart. Lithgow also makes occasional appearances on stage and television singing children's songs and accompanying himself on guitar.

Podcasts

On October 1, 2010, Lithgow appeared on Doug Benson's podcast Doug Loves Movies, along with fellow guests Paul F. Tompkins and Jimmy Pardo. He has also appeared on Chris Hardwick's show The Nerdist Podcast.

Other appearances

Lithgow voiced the character of Yoda in the National Public Radio adaptations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He provided narration for the IMAX film Special Effects: Anything Can Happen. He hosts Paloozaville, a children's Video on Demand program on Mag Rack based on his best-selling children's books. He appeared in the most recent Campbell's SelectSoups commercials, portraying a restaurant waiter serving "customers" in their own household. He often delivers commencement addresses at American universities. Lithgow also appears in Books By You, a children's computer game, and guides them through the steps to finish a pre-designed book.

In 2005, he became the first actor ever to deliver a commencement speech at Harvard University. He was featured at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 4"6, 2009 for performances of Mozart's Requiem with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He narrated some letters written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, some poems, and sections from the Book of Revelation in certain parts of the performance.

In 2011, he performed a dramatic reading of a Newt Gingrich press release on The Colbert Report and made a call to Colbert's annual Atone Phone "by mistake." He also voiced a South Carolina TV ad for Colbert Super PAC humorously attacking Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

In September 2011, Lithgow was featured in a one-night only production of Dustin Lance Black's play, '8' "? a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage "? as Attorney Theodore Olson to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Awards and nominations

Lithgow has won five Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, an American Comedy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. He won the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for his appearance as Arthur Mitchell on Dexter.

Work

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1972	Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues	John
1976	Obsession	Robert Laselle
1977	Secret Service	Unknown
1978	The Big Fix	Sam Sebastian
1979	All That Jazz	Lucas Sargent
1979	Rich Kids	Paul Phillips
1981	Blow Out	a killer
1982	Big Blonde	Herbie Morse
1982	Mom, the Wolfman and Me	Wally
1982	The Oldest Living Graduate	Clarence
1982	I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can	Mr. Brunner
1982	Not in Front of the Children	Richard Carruthers
1982	The World According to Garp	Roberta Muldoon	Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated-Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1983	Terms of Endearment	Sam Burns	Nominated-Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
1983	The Day After	Joe Huxley
1983	Twilight Zone: The Movie	John Valentine	Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
1984	Faerie Tale Theatre	Goldilocks' father	Episode: "Goldilocks and the Three Bears"
1984	Footloose	Reverend Shaw Moore
1984	The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension	Lord John Worfin	Nominated-Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
1984	2010	Dr. Walter Curnow
1984	The Glitter Dome	Marty Wellborn
1985	Santa Claus: The Movie	B.Z.
1986	Mesmerized	Unknown
1986	The Manhattan Project	John Mathewson
1986	Resting Place	Kendall Laird	Nominated-Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
1987	Harry and the Hendersons	George Henderson
1987	Baby Girl Scott	Neil Scott	Television film
1988	Distant Thunder	Mark Lambert
1989	Traveling Man	Ben Cluett	Television film
1989	Out Cold	Dave
1990	Memphis Belle	Bruce Derringer
1990	Ivory Hunters	Robert Carter
1991	L.A. Story	Harry Zell
1991	The Boys	Artie Marguiles
1991	At Play in the Fields of the Lord	Leslie Huben
1991	Ricochet	Earl Talbot Blake
1992	Raising Cain	Carter	Nominated-Saturn Award for Best Actor
1992	Yertle the Turtle	Narrator
1993	The Wrong Man	Phillip Mills
1993	The Country Mouse & the City Mouse	Alexander
1993	The Pelican Brief	Smith Keen
1993	Love, Cheat & Steal	Paul Harrington
1993	Cliffhanger	Eric Qualen	Nominated-Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actor
1994	World War II: When Lions Roared	Franklin Delano Roosevelt	Television film
1994	Silent Fall	Dr. Rene Harlinger
1994	Princess Caraboo	Professor Wilkinson
1994	A Good Man in Africa	Arthur Fanshawe
1995	Tales from the Crypt	Dr. Oscar Charles	Episode: "You, Murderer"
1995	Frasier	Madman Martinez	Episode: "Someone to Watch Over Me"
1995	Redwood Curtain	Laird	Television film
1995	My Brother's Keeper	Tom Bradley	Television film
1995	Hollow Point	Thomas Livingston
1995	The Tuskegee Airmen	Senator Conyers	Television film
1996-2001	3rd Rock from the Sun	Dr. Dick Solomon	139 episodes American Comedy Award for Funniest Male Lead on Television Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1996-1997, 1999) Satellite Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series (1997-1998) Nominated-Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy (1998-1999) Nominated-People's Choice Award for Funniest Male Television Performer (1996-1999) Nominated-Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1998, 2000-2001) Nominated-Satellite Award for Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated-Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (1997-1999) Nominated-TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy
1998	Homegrown	Robert Stockman
1998	Johnny Skidmarks	Larry Skovik
1998	Officer Buckle and Gloria	Narrator
1998	A Civil Action	Judge Walter Skinner
2000	Don Quixote	Don Quixote de la Mancha	Television film Nominated-Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2000	Rugrats in Paris: The Movie	Jean-Claude	Voice
2000	C-Scam	Unknown
2001	Shrek	Lord Farquaad	Voice
2002	Orange County	Bud Brumder
2004	The Life and Death of Peter Sellers	Blake Edwards
2004	Kinsey	Alfred Kinsey
2005	Einstein's Big Idea	Narrator	Television film
2006	Dreamgirls	Jerry Harris
2007	Shrek the Third	Lord Farquaad	Voice
2009	Confessions of a Shopaholic	Edgar West
2009	Dexter	Arthur Mitchell	12 episodes Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated-Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television Nominated-Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated-TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama
2009	The National Parks: America's Best Idea	Himself	2 episodes
2010	Leap Year	Jack Brady
2011	Rise of the Planet of the Apes	Charles Rodman
2011	How I Met Your Mother	Jerry Whitaker	2 episodes
2011	Prohibition	HL Mencken	3 episodes
2011	New Year's Eve	Jonathan Cox	Uncredited
2012	The Campaign	Glenn Motch
2012	This Is 40	Oliver
2013	The Homesman	Reverend Dowd	Post-production
2013	Once Upon a Time in Wonderland	White Rabbit	Voice
2014	Interstellar		Filming
2014	The Good Dinosaur	Poppa	Voice, Filming

Stage

• 1973 The Changing Room (Tony Award " Best Featured Actor in a Play)
• 1974 My Fat Friend
• 1975 Trelawny of the \"Wells\" (revival)
• 1976 A Memory of Two Mondays
• 1976 Boy Meets Girl (revival; director)
• 1976 Secret Service (revival)
• 1976 Comedians
• 1977 Anna Christie (revival)
• 1978 Once in a Lifetime (revival)
• 1979 Spokesong
• 1980 Division Street
• 1982 Beyond Therapy
• 1985 Requiem for a Heavyweight (Tony Nomination " Best Actor in a Play)
• 1986 The Front Page (revival)
• 1988 M. Butterfly (Tony Nomination " Best Actor in a Play)
• 2002 Sweet Smell of Success (Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical)
• 2003 The Retreat From Moscow
• 2005 Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony Nomination " Best Actor in a Musical)
• 2007 Twelfth Night, Royal Shakespeare Company
• 2008 All My Sons
• 2010 Mr. & Mrs. Fitch, Second Stage Theatre
• 2012 The Columnist, Manhattan Theatre Club
• 2012 The Magistrate, Royal National Theatre

Discography

• Singin' in the Bathtub (1999, Sony Wonder)
• The Sunny Side of the Street (2006, Razor & Tie)

Bibliography

• Remarkable Farkle Mcbride (2000, Simon & Schuster)
• Marsupial Sue (2001, Simon & Schuster)
• Micawber (2002, Simon & Schuster)
• I'm a Manatee (2003, Simon & Schuster)
• A Lithgow Palooza (2004, Simon & Schuster)
• Carnival of the Animals, (2004, Simon & Schuster)
• Lithgow Party Paloozas!: 52 Unexpected Ways to Make a Birthday, Holiday, or Any Day a Celebration for Kids, (2005, Simon & Schuster)
• Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake", (2005, Simon & Schuster)
• Mahalia Mouse Goes to College, (2007, Simon & Schuster)
• I Got Two Dogs, (2008, Simon & Schuster)